Choir

Choir

Fall Choir

The Fall Choir is a mixed choir opens to all students interested in learning to sing in a large choral ensemble regardless of musical background. No auditions are required to be a part of this ensemble. This class meets only during the first semester. Students taking this course will learn fundamentals of vocal production, such as correct breathing technique, vowel formation, and vertical space/raised soft palate, and how to affect change in vocal tone quality. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of repertoire in this one semester course, which will help students learn the various facets of vocal production previously mentioned. The Fall Choir performs at least twice during the first semester: the Homecoming All School Concert, and the HLA Christmas Concert. Other performance opportunities may be pursued based upon student availability and quality of the performance setting.

Concert Choir

The Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble, which rehearses and performs during the second semester. Members are selected from the ranks of the Fall Choir by audition during the month of November. Students taking this course will receive more advanced training in vocal production, such as vocal production, such as correct breathing technique, vowel formation, vertical space/raised soft palate and proper diction of foreign language pieces included in the concert repertoire. Students will also acquire knowledge of the historical background of the literature under study as well as historical performance practice. The Concert Choir tours every other year during the Easter Vacation (two and a half weeks) and a shorter tour in those years the Concert Band tours during Easter. The Concert Choir also performs during the All School Concert and Commencement exercise during graduation weekend.

Vocalise is a small, select vocal ensemble, which is available to sixteen high school students by audition only. This group focuses primarily on Vocal Jazz and Renaissance literature. Students will have the opportunity to develop the vocal skills delineated in other choral descriptions. In addition, they will also be exposed to singing vocal literature in Italian and German, and have the opportunity to develop their improvisational skills. Vocalise will be involved in numerous local performances highlighted by a spring concert held at A Center for the Arts/Fergus Theatre in downtown Fergus Falls.﻿

Junior High Choir

This course is open to all Junior High students who are interested in learning to sing in a small to medium sized choral ensemble. Students will be exposed to various fundamentals of vocal production such as correct posture, proper breathing techniques, vowel formation, and the concept of vertical space/raised soft palate. The focus of this course will be two-fold: 1. Performing appropriate unison, two-part and three-part choral literature in a variety of musical styles. 2. Understanding fundamentals of music through sight- reading activities and music theory worksheets.

Private Voice/Piano Lessons

Private voice and piano lessons are offered at HLA for academic credit. Students who register for this course will receive one lesson per week, and will be expected to practice during the same class period in which they have their lessons on non-lesson days. Voice students will learn necessary skills for proper vocal production; diaphragmatic breathing, vowel formation, vertical space/singing with a raised soft palate, in addition to being exposed to a variety of art song literature. Piano students will learn proper keyboard technique; hand position, fingering patterns and scales, as well as exposure to a wide variety of piano literature and introduction to music theory.